-ar verb A2 · Elementary

Conjugate iniciar in Spanish

to initiate / to start

iniciar is a regular -ar verb ranked #177 among the most common Spanish verbs. For example: "Yo inicio todos los días." (I initiate every day.). Use the tables below for full conjugation across all 7 tenses.

Ready to practise iniciar? Use the Conjugado app to drill conjugations with spaced repetition and actually remember them.
Practice for free ↗

Describes current actions, habits, and general truths. The most frequently used tense — master it first.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo inicio
inicias
él/ella/Ud. inicia
nosotros iniciamos
vosotros iniciáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. inician
Example

Yo inicio todos los días.

I initiate every day.

Describes completed past actions with a clear start and end. Key signals: ayer, el lunes pasado, de repente.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo inicié
iniciaste
él/ella/Ud. inició
nosotros iniciamos
vosotros iniciasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. iniciaron
Example

Nosotros iniciamos juntos.

We initiate together.

Describes habitual past actions, background context, and ongoing states. Key signals: siempre, normalmente, cuando era niño.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo iniciaba
iniciabas
él/ella/Ud. iniciaba
nosotros iniciábamos
vosotros iniciabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. iniciaban
Example

Antes yo iniciaba con frecuencia.

Before, I used to initiate / to start often.

Describes future events and predictions. In everyday speech, ir a + infinitive is often preferred for planned events.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo iniciaré
iniciarás
él/ella/Ud. iniciará
nosotros iniciaremos
vosotros iniciaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. iniciarán
Example

Mañana yo iniciaré.

Tomorrow I will initiate / to start.

Expresses what would happen under certain conditions — equivalent to "would" in English. Also used for polite requests.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo iniciaría
iniciarías
él/ella/Ud. iniciaría
nosotros iniciaríamos
vosotros iniciaríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. iniciarían
Example

Si pudiera, yo iniciaría.

If I could, I would initiate / to start.

Used in clauses expressing wishes, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty — typically after que. Triggers: querer, esperar, dudar, ojalá.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo inicie
inicies
él/ella/Ud. inicie
nosotros iniciemos
vosotros iniciéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. inicien
Example

Quiero que tú inicies más.

I want you to initiate more.

Used to give commands and direct requests. Affirmative and negative forms differ significantly in Spanish.

Pronoun Conjugation
yo -
inicia
él/ella/Ud. inicie
nosotros iniciemos
vosotros iniciad
ellos/ellas/Uds. inicien
Example

Él inicia con frecuencia.

He initiates often.

Test yourself

Type the correct conjugation for each prompt.

1/6

Example sentences

Common phrases with iniciar

What to learn next